A CONSERVATION group is looking to restore a pond at a nature reserve in Fordingbridge.

Fordingbridge Conservation Volunteer Action Group carry out regular work at Bishop’s Pond to maintain the site and have seen it transformed into a haven for wildlife and plants.

Bishop’s Pond near Normandy Way used to be popular with schoolchildren for pond dipping but the water regularly dries out. But now the group is looking at creating a lined pond to restore it to its former glory.

“We want to make it a lined pond so that we get permanent pond water,” said the group’s chairman Graham Long.

However, Mr Long says major fundraising would be needed, adding: “We will have to have a major fundraising exercise. It is only a little nature reserve in Fordingbridge and it is a designated a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation so it has got something going for it.

He said: “If we are going to go for major fundraising we will have to have charity status in order to attract major fundraising grants.

“If we do manage to achieve this lined pond it will be a graduated pond so creatures can get in and out.

“We have got someone working on this and hope to have some idea to go out to engineers to give us costings.

“It is well worth going for it to see what we can achieve. If we don’t try we have to live with that thought.”

The origins of the pond date back to the 12th century. An estate was built around it in the 1980s and Bishop’s Pond was preserved as a feature and is under the care of Fordingbridge Town Council.

Volunteers groups have been taking care of the Bishop’s Pond site for the last 20 years. Fordingbridge Conservation Volunteer Action Group was founded in 2009.

The area sees regular displays of bluebells and other plants and is home to wildlife including foxes, badgers, and occasionally roe deer. A list is being made of the plants and wildlife at Bishop’s Pond.

“Every time I come in I see different things I haven’t seen before which is lovely,” said Mr Long. “A number of people have no idea it is here.”

The group has about 20 volunteers but is looking to boost its numbers.

Mr Long said: “We could do with a bigger pool of volunteers to have more availability. If we are going for fundraising we need a bigger membership than we have got.”

Anyone interested in volunteering contact Graham Long on 01425 653718 or email grahamlong35@btinternet.com.